Kevin Walters has responded to claims Brisbane treated him "like an idiot", saying in hindsight he made the right call to leave the NRL club to concentrate on Queensland.
Broncos great Chris Johns had accused his former club of being disrespectful to head coach hopeful Walters by not coming up with a clear succession plan for veteran mentor Wayne Bennett.
Johns said Brisbane had treated ex-skipper Walters "like an idiot" and it was time they made their intentions clear about Bennett's future after off contract Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy was linked to a move to Red Hill.
Walters started the NRL season as Bennett's deputy but lasted four rounds before quitting to concentrate solely on his Maroons State of Origin head coach role.
However, Walters believed his tough call had worked out for the best ahead of Origin I in Melbourne on June 6.
Walters said skipper Cameron Smith's shock representative retirement ensured he had to focus full-time on the rebuilding Maroons who are also without playmakers Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.
Asked if he had been hurt by Brisbane's treatment, Walters told ABC Grandstand: "Not really.
"I left Brisbane to focus on Origin.
"And I am thankful that I did because it just crept up on us so quickly and given the changes we had as well.
"Cam Smith was a left field one. We did not anticipate that.
"So I am pleased I did what I did from a Queensland point of view because it needed my full attention."
Walters said there were no hard feelings with Brisbane.
"The Broncos have always been a big part of my life and will continue to be regardless of what happens in the near future," he said.
"And if you look at the big picture Brisbane are just trying to cover all bases (by talking to Bellamy) and trying to get everything right to get the right person to coach Brisbane post-Bennett.
"I guess that is all they are doing. That's for the Broncos to decide."
Share
